Tris Reid-Smith, director and editor of Gay Star News, who is in Baltimore, Maryland for LGBT workplace conference Out and Equal, said: ‘So far it looks like any cancellations to events over the next few days are just going to give us more time for partying.

‘If God is trying to punish the gays, he sure doesn’t know how to do it.’

Sandy, dubbed a ‘Frankenstorm’, could affect up to 60 million people as several states have declared emergencies, schools have closed and transport services suspended.